Key holder frame



Aug. 26, 1952 JOHNSON 2,608,088

KEY HOLDER FRAME Fil ed Sept. 17, 1949 lNvENToR: FRANK E. JOHNSON,

AT TOR NEY.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 omrso stares KEY HOLDER FRAME Frank E. Johnson, Abington, Mass, assignor: to t d q r s e r ornqr nl C m rid Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 17, i949, Serial No. 116.246

(e1. 70f456). i

8; Claims. 1

This invention relates to key retaining devices, and has particular reference to a keyholder frame adapted to receive and engage key hooks of the type having an enlarged head disposed on the end of a neck portion.

The object of the invention is to provide a key frame for attaching to a key case, in which the frame is provided with slotted spring arms disposed on a base to'receive and engage a key hook in the slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key holder frame in which a base having a series of spring arms with upwardly extending slotted free end portions is provided with means for snapping engagement with the free ends to retain a key hook in the slotted free end portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key holder frame having the features as described above which is formed of a single piece of sheet metal and adapted for manufacture from a continuous strip of material on anautomatic machine.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a key frame embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the key frame of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the key frame of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with a key hook partly assembled there in; and.

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a key frame 10, which is adapted for attachment to a supporting member l2, such'as a key case or the like, to receive and engage key hooks I4.

The key frame Iii comprises a base l6, which may be provided with openings Hi to receive rivets 20 for attaching the frame to the supporting member, a series of spring arms 22 disposed on the lower portion of the base having upwardly extending free end portions 24, and an outwardly extending free end support member 26 disposed on the base opposite the ends of the spring arms.

The spring arms 22 are preferably integral with the base, and normally extend upwardly and outwardly at an angle thereto when the arm is not engaged with the support member. In

the preferred embodiment; thefr'ee end portion 24 is rounded outwardly as at 28, and terminates in an inwardly extending tongue portion 30.

To receive and retain a key hook, a longitudinal slot 32 i's-provided' in the'freeend portion, and an opening 34 is disposed on the tongue portion atthe upper end of the slot to permit the head of a key hook to passtherethrough. The end of the spring arm may be turned upwardly to form a camming surface 36 to facilitate engagement and disengageanentof the. arm'f'rom the support member as will be'hereinafter described. The support. member 261' is preferably formed by'turning the upper edge of the base outwardly and downwardly to conform approximately to the shape of the outwardly rounded portion 28 on the spring arms. A series. of slots 38 are.provided in the support portion which extend inwardly from the edge, and are in alignment-with the slots in the corresponding spring arms. To provide means for engaging the spring arms, a tab 49 is provided on the support member at the upper end of each slot 38. Y

The. key hooks M for use with the key frame of' the invention are well known in. the-art, and comprise generally a key retaining loop 42 and a pair of legs 44 which are held together by the spring action of theloop; and adapted to be sprung; apart to. allow akey to be assembled on theloop. To provide. means 'forengagement with a, key frame, the :legs Mare shaped and arranged to. provide anenlarged head 46 disposed on the end of a neck portion 48.

Referr ng to-Fig. 4, there. is illustrated the method of assembling a key hook on the frame. With the spring'arm' unsnapped from the support member, the head of rthe hook ispassed through the opening 34, and the hook is then allowed to slide down the slot 32 so that the head is retained behind the'adjacent edges of the arm formed by the slot. The free end portion 24 of the arm is then pushed inwardly so thatthe tongue portion 30 passes over the support portion, and the camming surface 36 rides over the tab 18 to allow the tab to snap into engagement with the arm in the opening '34. (See Fig. 5.) The tongue portion 30 and the support member 26 are shaped and arranged so that during engagement as described above, the tongue is superimposed over the support member, and the corresponding slot 38 is disposed directly under the opening 34. (See Fig. 3.) This effectively reduces the size of the opening so that the head of the key hook is prevented from passing therethrough, and the key hook is thereby prevented from becoming disengaged from the key frame.

To remove a key hook from the frame, the end of the tongue 30 may be lifted slightly by the fingernail until the tongue snaps out of engagement with the tab 40 which allows the spring arms to spring outwardly into the position of Fig. 4, after which the key hook may be easily removed by passing the head through the opening 34.

The key frame of the invention is economical to construct, since it may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal, which allows it to be manufactured in an automatic machine from a continuous strip of material. The positive locking action of the spring arms insures that a. key

hook cannot become accidentally disengaged from the frame.

Since certain obvious modifications may be made in the device without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

l. A key holder frame, comprising a base, a series of spring arms disposed on the base having free ends extending upwardly in Spaced relation to the base, said arms having longitudinal slots therein for receiving a keyi hook, and fastener means on the base for engaging in the slots at the free ends of said arms to secure said free ends to said base.

2. A key holder frame, comprising a base, a series of spring arms disposed on the base having free ends extending upwardly in spaced relation to the base, each of said arms having a longitudinal slot therein for receiving a key hook and terminating at an opening at the free end wider than the slot to permit the passage of the head of a key hook therethrough, said base having means thereon for engaging the free end of each arm, said engaging means having means associated therewith for restricting the opening in each arm to prevent the passage of the head of a key hook therethrough.

3. A key holder frame, comprisinga base, a series of upwardly extending spring arms disposed on the base, and an outwardly extending support member disposed on the base opposite the ends of the arms, each of said arms having an inwardly extending tongue with an opening therein to permit the head of a. key hook to pass therethrough, and a lon itudinal slot extending from the opening down the arm, said support portion having slots extending from the edge thereof in alignment with the slots in the arms, each tongue and said support member having cooperating fas- 1 tongue is engaged therewith so that the opening in the tongue is disposed over the corresponding slot in the support member.

5. A key holder frame as set forth in claim 3, in which the spring arms normally extend outwardly at an angle to the base, and the support member is provided with an upwardly extending tab at the upper end of each slot, said tab being adapted to snap into the opening in the tongue when the spring arm is forced inwardly toward the base.

6. A key holder frame to receive key hooks of the type having an enlarged head disposed on the end of a neck portion, said frame comprising a base, a series of spring arms disposed on the lower portion of the base, and an outwardly extending support member disposed on the upper portion of the base, each of said spring arms extending upwardly in spaced relation to the base and having an outwardly rounded free end portion terminating in an inwardly extending tongue, said tongue having an opening therein to permit the passage of the head of a key hook therethrough, said outwardly rounded portion having a longitudinal slot therein connected to the openme, said support member having slot extending inwardly from the edge thereof in alignment with the slots and openings in the spring arms, each tongue and said support member having cooperating fastening means thereon whereby the tongue may be snapped into engagement with the support member.

7. A key holder frame as set forth in claim 3 in which the support member and the tongue portion of each arm are shaped and arranged to allow the tongue portion to be superimposed over the adjacent portion of the support member when the tongue is engaged therewith so that the opening in the tongue is disposed over the corresponding slot in the support member to prevent the passage of the head of a key hook therethrough.

8. A key holder frame as set forth in claim 3 in which the spring arms normally extend outwardly at an angle to the base, and the cooperating fastening means includes an upwardly extending tab at the end of each slot of said support member adjacent the base, said tab being adapted to snap into the opening in the tongue of the corresponding spring arm when the spring arm is forced inwardly toward the base.

- FRANK E. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,474,315 Carmel Nov. 13, 1923 1,543,054 Bushnell June 23', 1925 2,401,753 Geller June 11, 1946 

